Psychedelics for Mental Health Treatment: Exploring Psilocybin, Ketamine, MDMA & Other Illicit Drugs

Course overview

Recent years have witnessed a renewed interest in previously illegal drugs for treating MH disorders. Psilocybin (the psychoactive element in "magic mushrooms"), Ketamine ("Special K"), Esketamine (Rx Spravato), and MDMA ("Ecstasy") are investigated for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and PTSD; anecdotally, they can be helpful for SUDs as well. In micro-doses applied under strict regulations in licensed clinics by specially trained clinicians, research begins to show increasing promise. In this presentation, Mike Bricker will help us examine the history of currently illicit psychoactive substances (including ayahuasca and Peyote), patterns of consumption, attempts to outlaw recreational use, and now clinical investigation. We will discuss the pros and cons of clinical use of these substances, concerns for cross-addiction with other substances, cognitive dissonance with existing abstinence models, and legal/regulatory challenges.